Melvin Seah

Learning in public about product, startups & capital. Writing here:

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

@nicochristie excel junkie here - send me one pls!

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

🧵As an investor, I've lamented the scarcity of venture-scale B2B startups in Singapore. In 2022, I decided to build my own. After 2.5 years of struggles and pivots, I returned capital to investors, realizing the B2B wave hasn't taken off here yet.

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

@wesroth Long-term moats are shifting.

Switching costs, even in enterprise software, are dropping fast.

So what replaces them?

Maybe the new moat is being the system of engagement that best adapts to how I work.

Mused about this: https://t.co/q6AlFQgOQe

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

@bwertz @jaminball When AI helps everyone ship faster, speed isn't a moat, it’s table stakes. What matters is relative speed.

But speed fades as you scale. The next nimble player is always faster.

Are startups now sprints, not marathons, with value needing to be captured much earlier?

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

@levie Agents should help me do my work, my way. The one that learns my taste, style, and workflow best will win.

I reckon that means: metadata on my actions + in-context feedback + memory.

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

5/5 These reflections are just the beginning of my journey. I’m sharing them to spark conversations. Follow me for more musings on building better and about AI.

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

🧵As an investor, I've lamented the scarcity of venture-scale B2B startups in Singapore. In 2022, I decided to build my own. After 2.5 years of struggles and pivots, I returned capital to investors, realizing the B2B wave hasn't taken off here yet.

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

4/5 I also realized I should've waited to start until I had deeper conviction in the problem. The early phase is messy and pressure can lead to hasty decisions. Taking the time to validate ideas is crucial for success.

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

3/5 My early attempts at product-market fit taught me the importance of thorough discovery. Observation of end-users revealed challenges often missed in workshops. Be embedded in their workflows to uncover real pain points.

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

2/5 Building B2B software in Singapore is tough. I learned that success often comes from pursuing low-probability bets and forming deep partnerships. Focus on 1-2 design partners instead of chasing countless leads for faster insights.

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

3/5 My early attempts at product-market fit taught me the importance of thorough discovery. Observation of end-users revealed challenges often missed in workshops. Be embedded in their workflows to uncover real pain points. #B2BTech #CustomerDiscovery

[Melvin Seah @mn_seah]

2/5 Building B2B software in Singapore is tough. I learned that success often comes from pursuing low-probability bets and forming deep partnerships. Focus on 1-2 design partners instead of chasing countless leads for faster insights. #Entrepreneurship